In the days since its liberation , Apple TV has often immure behind competitor , seemingly draw a blank by Apple in favour of phones , computers , and even watches . And the Apple TV ’s status as the “ other ” on Apple ’s tilt of sales feels discernible when you note how late to the 4 K party it is . Roku launched a 4 K boxlast year andNvidia launched an Android - based onetwo years ago . Fortunately ( for Apple rooter ) the Apple TV 4 K is so svelte it almost feels like it was worth the postponement .
Apple TV 4 K
terms
All images: Alex Cranz/Gizmodo
$ 180
What is it ?
Apple eventually make a 4 K rendering of its primed - top boxful .
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That burnish .
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swarm 4 K over wi - fi is a nightmare .
But just to be clear , unless you are already deep attached to the Apple ecosystem , and in particular the iTunes stock , the Apple TV 4 K is not deserving the wait . It ’s very good at what it does — namely play back capacity in 4 super acid with an expanded semblance gamut and HDR ( it corroborate both HDR10 and Dolbyvision — thetwo competing HDR format ) , but in the meantime , you could have had avery tawdry Roku , or a pricey but more spry Nvidia Shield . The Apple TV , at $ 180 , is only a little crummy than the $ 200 Nvidia Shield , which also does 4 K and HDR and gaming . Only that equipment , because it runs Android TV , can also play Nintendo ROMs and pour Amazon Prime .
So why on earth would one ever recommend the Apple TV ? Because this matter does what Apple usually does best — it takes a picky concept and boils it down into something a roomie , parent , or even that sometime college brother with two fry , a full fourth dimension job , and zero barren time could use . tvOS has to be the most polished TV operating system I ’ve used , and even when I ’m front with its limitation ( no Amazon Prime until later this twelvemonth ) I do n’t notice myself too bothered . Everything is so pretty and so easy to habituate that it ’s hard to be annoyed .
Typing in passwords is easy because I can just obtain down the Siri clitoris and import them out , and while swipe on the remote control ’s little touchpad to voyage menu feel weird at first , after a couple of time of day of use you wo n’t even notice ( I certainly did n’t ) .
Apple TV also has the downright easiest method acting yet for finding expert 4 K HDR movies to catch . I ’m not talk about whatever Netflix airs on a whimsey — but movies that have just leave alone the theater , like Wonder Woman or Kong : Skull Island . Sony was the first to extend first be given 4 kelvin HDR movies with its expensiveUltra HD Media Player . You could see the latest Spider - Man or other Sony films as shortly as they provide theaters , but the box and motion-picture show were pricey and the seafaring menus were ugly .
Both Roku and Android have offered solutions since , but those solution have been bad . The apps ( unremarkably Vudu , Amazon , or a combining of both ) are unattractive , and thanks to poor labeling , you ’re never in reality sure if the movie you ’re spending $ 10-$20 on is actually in 4 K and HDR . With the Apple TV , those movies are clearly labeled , and Apple promises that as motion-picture show already in its library are made available in 4 K and HDR , the price for those flicks will stay the same , regardless of whether you corrupt it as an HD picture show initially or not . This constitute upgrading your celluloid library cheaper and easy than any other solution out there .
But there ’s is one big wildly irritate caution . 4 KB HDR content incline to be big — too big for the 32 GB to 64 GB of storage useable on an Apple TV . Not to mention the fact that at the here and now , you could only stream 4 super acid content from Apple . ( Applerecommendsa minimum download speed of 25 Mbps download f number for rain buckets 4K. ) So you have to stream these braggy gorgeous picture show , and if your cyberspace is crummy , or you do n’t have a wired ethernet line directly from the box to your router , you will be in for a reality of frustration . After drop $ 20 to observe Baby Driver on the Apple TV ( Apple often makes films available for leverage while they ’re still in theaters ) , I found myself less than impressed . The Apple TV was run off my Wisconsin - fi , but sit in a less than idealistic localization , so the film stuttered and stopped and frequently downgrade the flow to 720p or worse .
Once I plug away in an ethernet electric cord ( I was n’t about to reconfigure the whole way for a better wi - fi signal next to the TV ) I could see the stubble on the baby - faced lead of the film . Wonder Woman front large too , and Sense8 , Stranger Things , and Daredevil time of year 2 , three Netflix shows shot in 4 K and HDR , all look as good an vibrant as they do on the Nvidia Shield .
Since I sorted the internet government issue the 4 K Apple TV has had few issue . It ’s a firm twist . If you ’re already invested in the iTunes store , do n’t want to mess with the possible fussiness of Android on the Nvidia Shield , or you ’re desperate to have very nice look first run movies without dropping cash on a Blu - ray participant , then the Apple TV 4 K should be at the top of your listing . It ca n’t do as much as the Nvidia Shield , and it is n’t as cheesy as the Roku Ultra , but this little $ 180 boxwood normally just work out , and it looks slap-up while it does it .
README
It act back content at 4 special K with HDR when applicable . Finally .
The menu and navigation are all intutive and conveniently the most attractive available .
First run movies , and even films still in theater , can be had for $ 20 a pop , and they ’ll automatically upgrade to 4 K HDR when usable , with no additional cost .
in spades plan to string along an ethernet cable if you need to enjoy 4 K content .
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